Motorcycle Articles

The cost of gasoline has us all reviewing our driving habits. Fortunately, they’ve fallen from the terrible highs of over $4 a gallon, but they’ve been steadily creeping up since then. Now prices are hovering in the range of $3 plus a gallon. In some way it doesn’t seem as appalling as before, because we’ve already had worse. We have become a little complacent. Gas hit $4 and we survived. But it’s more pricey that you ever thought it would be when you bought a car and decided to use it as your primary means of transportation. So you’ve finally had enough, and you bought a motorcycle. Good for you! Unfortunately there’s another hurdle ahead; the cost of motorcycle insurance.

There are a couple of reasons that motorcycle insurance is so expensive. First, motorcycles are involved in a lot of accidents, simply because they’re difficult for other drivers to see. Although the other driver may be at fault too, if you are partially responsible for an accident, your insurance has to pay. Insurance companies also have to take into account the cost of paying claims when the other driver is uninsured or under-insured.

Motorcycle accidents are also more likely to involve significant bodily injury claims. Unlike property damage, which tops out at the value of the property, injury claims can be almost limitless. That drive up insurance premiums. You can help reduce this danger by driving carefully, or not driving your motorcycle when conditions are dangerous. Wind, rain, fog and other weather factors are more dangerous for motorcycles than for cars. Those are good days to drive a car or find another means of transportation. Make sure that you and any passengers always wear a helmet when riding.

Lastly, remember that statistics drive insurance premiums. If the odds of a claim or the average dollar amount of a claim are high for the particular type of vehicle that you drive (or ride), your premiums will be higher. This is where insurance companies account for all those things that they can’t quantify any other way – from risky drivers to unsafe vehicles. If you are planning to buy a bike, get insurance quotes for a few different models. The price difference may be significant enough to influence which bike you choose.

What’s the best way to keep those gas savings rather than handing them over to the insurance company? First, be a low risk driver. Make sure you drive safely all the time. Whether you’re in the right or not, do what it takes to avoid accidents. Second, compare motorcycle insurance bids. Don’t just call your old auto insurance company and add your bike. Contact at least three companies and get quotes for the coverage you want for your bike with your driving record. It’s so easy now that you can get quotes online. It’s well worth whatever time you spend getting quotes. This is a major expense that recurs year after year, not a one-time expense like buying the motorcycle was. You’ll save year after year, month after month if you shop around and get a better rate. Imagine saving $200, $300 or $400 this year – and next year, and the year after that – all for doing your legwork now. Prices can creep up after a few years, especially if something about your driving record or vehicles has changed since you first chose this insurance company, so it’s a good idea to get a quote from a different insurance company every few years. Choose the better of the two for the upcoming year. That’s a great way to get a good price with minimal effort on your part.

Written by Coleen Smith Compare Motorcycle Insurance Quote Bike Insurance Comparison

categories: motorcycle insurance,insurance,motorcycles,vehicles

Aug162010

Tags: insurance, motorcycle insurance, Motorcycles, vehicles

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